In the first hours of the new valet service at Cox South in Springfield, valet Connor Kennedy was already seeing the benefits to our patients and guests.
“They are ecstatic,” says Kennedy. “It’s great for the people who don’t have the ability to walk all that far because this parking lot does get very full. We’ve had people come in with crutches and elderly people who don’t have to worry now about parking and walking very far.”
The valet service is a safe and secure way to manage parking on our busy campus, especially with the opening of the tower expansion. The service helps us address a longstanding issue on the Cox South campus: there are enough parking spaces, but many of them are located far from the main entrances. The use of valets solves the issue, at a cost that is more affordable than adding new parking lots or garages.
The valet service is operating now at both the North Entrance and West Tower Entrance at Cox South for our patients and guests. We have recently extended the service to our volunteer force.
CoxHealth is the only health system in Springfield to offer valet service. The service is free to customers and is available at the North Entrance and West Tower Entrance of Cox South from 7 a.m. - 7 p.m., Monday – Friday.
The new West Tower serves patients and guests of the Dee Ann White Women’s and Children’s Hospital and the Jared Neuroscience Center, which includes neurosurgery, neurology, neuropsychology and physiatry clinics.
“We won’t have people maneuvering through parking lots in wheelchairs or crutches, which will reduce the risk of falls or accidents with vehicles,” says Eric Clay, system director of Public Safety and Security. “Now they can drop off their car right in front of the hospital and see their loved one or get to their appointment on time because they won’t spend time looking for a parking space.”
The valets with our vendor, Springfield Parking Company, watch as drivers slow down in front of the entrance. If guests want to use the service, valets take the keys and hand the driver a valet ticket.
As the guests walk in, the valet drives the vehicle to one of the underutilized parking areas, such as the top level of the parking garage, the Kings Avenue parking lot and the former Maples lot across from the North Entrance.
Customers are instructed to text a message to the number on their valet ticket 15 minutes before they are ready to leave, alerting the valet to retrieve their vehicle. The goal is for customers to walk out to find their vehicle waiting for them.
“It’s like building a parking garage that has an infinite number of spaces right at your front door,” says Alex Scott, owner of Springfield Parking Company. “Everyone using the valet service always has the best parking spot.”
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